Your visit to Chiang Mai should include at least a few of these temples.

Wat Umong

Wat Umong is a jungle temple built in the foothills of Doi Suthep mountain. The unique features include an artificial mound that is criss-crossed with tunnels (umong is Thai for “tunnel”). On top of this mound is the main bell-shaped chedi. Wat Umong is a beautiful place to visit especially to walk around under the forest trees that surround the temple. The complete name for the Buddhist temple is Wat Umong Suan Puthatham.

A collection of Buddha heads and other relics near the entrance of the tunnels.

Wat Umong Tunnel

Wat Umong Tunnel

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh situated in the heart of the city originates from the 14th century but most of its buildings were built in the 19th century. This temple contains beautiful examples of Lanna art. The library hall or scripture repository (Haw Trai) near the main entrance is used to keep Buddhist scriptures.

Wat Phra Thad Doi Suthep

The most famous temple of Chiang Mai is located on the Doi Suthep mountain. It can be reached by car via a winding road through the forest offering splendid views over the city. A long naga stairway takes you to the temple complex with its shiny golden chedi which can be seen day and night from everywhere in Chiang Mai. A visit to Chiang Mai is not complete without seeing this temple.

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang is one of the most important temples in Chiang Mai. The Emerald Buddha was once enshrined here, but it was moved after the main structure partly collapsed because of an earthquake. The Grand Pagoda, Phra Dhatu Chedi Luang, is now at its base about 60 meters wide and is 56 meters heigh. The temple is home to several Buddha statues, including a 9 meter tall standing Buddha statue and a 9 meter long reclining Buddha statue.

Wat Jed Yod

Wat Jed Yod temple gets its name from the seven chedis (jed = seven). The temple has an Indian design and is decorated with seventy celestial images on the walls of the base. The temple area is shaded by old trees and especially beautiful just before sunset.

Wat Bup Pha Ram

Wat Bup Pha Ram is a beautiful temple located at the Tha Pae road, which is one of the main roads in the center of Chiang Mai. The temple area has several buildings in different styles and a tall chedi, all worth visiting and within walking distance from Chiang Mai’s Night Bazar.

Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man (or Wat Chiang Mun) was founded more than 700 years ago. This old temple is located in the old city on the Rachpakinai Road. At the base of the chedi are rows of elephants supporting the structure.

Wat Suan Dok

Wat Suan Dok (the flower garden temple) is located on the west side of the moat on Suthep road. This temple has a very large ordination hall.. Near this hall is an area with dozens of small white chedi, which contain the ashes of many of Chiang Mai’s Royal Family. The largest chedi contains a Buddha relic. As in most temple compounds also here you will find several Buddha trees (Bodhi tree), which is a symbol of enlightenment.

Wat Sri Suphan

Wat Sri Suphan is an old temple on Wua Lai road just south of the moat. In the area around the temple skilled craftsman are working on all kinds of decorative items of silverware. One of the temple buildings is decorated in shining silver as an example of their art and craftsmanship. Visit this temple on Saturday afternoon and then stay on to buy some handicrafts in the Saturday market when Wua lai Street is closed to traffic.

[…] Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, the one temple we were able to visit, was absolutely spectacular and worth the trip alone. It is said to have been built in 1383 and is apparently the most impressive one on the mountain. You have the option of taking a tram from the road up to the temple, but I strongly recommend the stairs. They’re definitely doable, and it really adds to the experience, putting you more into the monks’ shoes, climbing it as they would have done so many times to get to their sacred site. Not to mention that the stairway in and of itself is a majestic structure. Counting just over 300 steps, it is bordered on both sides by a Naga, a mythical creature resembling a serpent found in many religions in the area (maybe an influence to Voldemort’s snake Nagiri, in Harry Potter). […]